In May 1991, a California court issued its first decision on the gay issue following a trial. In June 1991, BSA prepared and distributed its internal memorandum on it's position on homosexuality. On September 3, 1991, Guy Eichsteadt, the BSA professional employee responsible for BSA's Catholic relations, wrote a letter to the NCCB/USCC requesting support for BSA's recently released statement on homosexuality.
     Below is the response from the Catholic Church on BSA's position on homosexuality.

National Conference of Catholic Bishops
Office of the General Secretary
 

September 18, 1991

Guy C. Eichsteadt
Executive Secretary
National Catholic Committee on Scouting
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 952079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
 

Dear Mr. Eichsteadt:

In response to your letter of September 3 concerning the Catholic Church's position on the issues in question, I share the following with you.

1. While the church has no "official" policy regarding "avowed" homosexuals serving as volunteer leaders in the Church, the Vatican issued a directive from the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to the bishops of the world on "The Pastoral care of Homosexual People." You may wish to consider several points from this document.

In #3: Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, homosexual genital activity is considered immoral.

In #7: Homosexual persons can be generous and giving of themselves.

In #11:  What is essential is that the fundamental liberty which characterizes the human person and gives him his dignity be recognized as belonging to the homosexual person.

In #16: Pastoral care for homosexuals should affirm the dignity of the person as a creature of God and, by grace, God's child and heir to eternal life.

All adults who work as volunteers in the Catholic Church are expected to affirm and live according to the teachings of the Church: homosexual and heterosexual persons. Volunteers are also expected not to be in situations where they would be a cause of scandal to people.

2. Regarding an atheist as a leader of a church group, the presumption is that a leader in a Catholic organization would be one whose faith life provides a role model for youth and whose life does not present scandal to the youth or the adults within that community.

3. Evangelization and formation are the primary objectives of the Church's pastoral ministry with young people. Youth organizations which work in collaboration with the Church should be places where children and teens can more fully discover their faith and grow in that faith.

 I hope this information is helpful to you.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Reverend Monsignor Robert N. Lynch
General Secretary
 

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